Birth Control Pills Advantages and Disadvantages

Birth control pills provide certain health benefits in addition to preventing pregnancy.

• Highly effective reversible contraception. Birth control pills provide highly reliable contraceptive protection, exceeding 99%. Even when imperfect use (skipping an occasional pill) is considered, the BCPs are still very effective in preventing pregnancy.


• Menstrual cycle regulation. Birth control pills cause menstrual cycles to occur regularly and predictably. This is especially helpful for women with periods that come too often or too infrequently. Periods also tend to be lighter and shorter.


• Decrease risk of iron deficiency (anemia). Birth control pills reduce the amount of blood flow during the period. Less blood loss is helpful in preventing anemia.


• Reduce the risk of ovarian cysts. The risk of developing ovarian cysts is greatly reduced for birth control pills users because they help prevent ovulation. An ovarian cyst is a fluid - filled growth that can develop in the ovary during ovulation.


• Protection against pelvic inflammatory disease. Birth control pills provide some protection against pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). Pelvic inflammatory disease is a serious bacterial infection of the fallopian tubes and uterus that can result in severe pain and potentially, infertility.


• Can improve acne. For moderate to severe acne, which over-the-counter and prescription medications can't cure, birth control pills may be prescribed. The hormones in the birth control pill can help stop acne from forming.

Risks & Disadvantages

· Heart attack. The chances of birth control pills contributing to a heart attack are small unless you smoke. Studies have shown that smoking dramatically increases the risk of heart attack in women age 35 years or older, which is why pills are generally not prescribed to women in this age group who smoke.

· Blood pressure. Women taking birth control pills usually have a small increase in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure, although readings usually remain within the normal range.

· Migraines and stroke. Women who take oral contraceptive and have a history of migraines have an increased risk of stroke compared to nonusers with a history of migraine.

· Blood clots (Venous thromboembolism). Women who use birth control pills are at a slightly increased risk of having a blood clot in the legs or lungs. Studies consistently show that the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) is two to six times higher in oral contraceptive users than in nonusers. The risk of blood clots is highest in women with clotting disorders or who have previously had a deep venous thrombosis or pulmonary embolism. Other risk factors include obesity, older age, having several family members who've had blood clots before old age, air travel, and having to lie or sit for a prolonged period, as you might after major surgery.

Types of Birth Control Pills

Progestin-only pills

The progestin-only pills (also called "mini-pills") became available in the 1970s. Their use was and has been limited - making up only 1 to 10 % of contraceptive market. This type of pills contains no estrogen and therefore they do not usually prevent ovulation. To work effectively, they must be taken at a certain time every 24 hours. Even missing one pill can greatly reduce effectiveness.

Progestin-only pills have specific advantages over combined oral contraceptives. Because they do not contain estrogen, they are a good contraceptive choice for breastfeeding women, as estrogen reduces milk production, and for women with health conditions that preclude use of combined oral contraceptives pills, such as migraine headaches, thromboembolism, and cardiovascular disease.

Combination pills

When you hear the term "birth control pill," it most often refers to oral contraceptives containing estrogen and progestin. Combination pills contain a combination of these two hormones. They are categorized as monophasic, biphasic, or triphasic pills depending on whether the level of hormones stays the same during the first three weeks of the menstrual cycle or changes.

Emergency contraceptive pills (ECP)

Emergency contraceptive pills are not intended to be used regularly as a contraceptive. They are designed to prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex. The FDA has approved one emergency contraception pill called Plan B, which contains the progestin levonorgestrel.

Advantages of ECP:

• Reduces the chance of unintended pregnancy


• Can be obtained easily - Plan B will soon be available over the counter for women 18 and over can be